EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES - OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Supported employment began with a focus on those individuals deemed le ss likely to secure a job in the community: those with severe mental r etardation, behavioral challenges, and multiple disabilities. The crea tion of supported employment resulted, in part, because of demonstrati ons of the com petence and capabilities of these same people previousl y thought to be unemployable in any meaningful sense of the word. Howe ver, as supported employment has unfolded, those with the most severe disabilities appear to be underrepresented in the ranks of those benef itting from supported employment. Although the limited access to suppo rted employment by individuals with such labels appears clear, little is known about how the employment of those with more severe disabiliti es compares with others in supported employment. This report provides analyses of the employment features, support patterns, and outcomes fo r persons with more severe disabilities in supported employment.